mudcat wrote:It seems that there is an underlying fear within the LDS community, that the type of blatant physical persecution that occurred within the mid 19th century will return. Much like the the underlying fear of nuclear attack prevailed during the Cold War Era among all Americans.
I understand that in the last few decades, in areas of Latin America, there have been terrorist motivated attacks upon LDS.
I can't really give much of an opinion on what happens outside the USA, for the most part I am interested in finding out if LDS believe that this sort of thing may start up again in the USA.
My personal opinion, is that it will not. It seems to me that over time, we have seen a diminishing of this sort of violent activity. I think our country has grown much more tolerant of differing faiths and I see no reason that it will not become even more tolerant, as time passes.
I would think open persecution of the LDS church, would be as categorically implausible as repealing abolition, recalling desegregation of the schools or ordering the extermination of the remaining populace of the American Indian tribes.
Yet, I feel that this seems to be a very “real” fear within LDS society. I don't have the unique perspective of being an insider of your faith so I would like to ask...Why?
Again: I really question the use of the word "fear." I think "rapture" or "infatuation" seems much close to the mark. Just get a load of this post:
LeSellers wrote:It would take very little, in my view, for a demagogue to accuse LDSs of "hoarding food" (because many of us have a one- or two-year supply of food, etc.), or "controlling the politics of (Utah, Idaho, Nevada)", or even having a disproportionate number of US Representatives and Senators, and to have enough people follow his rant to start the kind (qualitative and possibly quantitative) of riots we saw in L.A. following the Rodney King trial. Korean shop owners were faced with killing to protect their stores, other places, with absentee owners, lost everything.
One wonders if someone like Mitt Romney were to win the Presidency of the united States of America, whether some place would echo the sounds of gunfire protesting this agent of the devil's in the chief magistrate's seat. I know there are some who'd consider it the work of the Lord to assassinate him.
USmerica is not as advanced as the OP suggests. Some of your examples (e.g., a return to slavery) are far-fetched (although I believe it possible, albeit remotely). Nonetheless, religious persecution of a people like us, who are community-oriented, and somewhat parochial, with odd habits (we don't drink, smoke, etc.) and wear underclothing that doesn't say "Haynes" on them, i.e., an easy to identify subculture, is not only possible, but highly likely when food supplies get short, when jobs are hard to find, when Satan can use a problem as a lever to get his program on track.
As others have said, the righteous will suffer persecution. I believe that the LDSs will be among those in that camp. I also believe that Satan has the capacity to raise a huge army to do his will.
There will come a time when the only safe places will be in the stakes of Zion, in the homes of Zion, and in the hearts of Zion. All the world will be shaken by the evils of the age, and the world will envy the peace found in Zion, and the world will attack those whose allegiance is weak, like lions picking off the outliers of a herd of antelope. Haun's Mill showed us how failing to follow the counsel of prophets can lead to physical destruction. Safety will demand heeding prophetic leadership.
Here's Hammer, who draws a weird parallel with the Iraq War:
Hammer wrote:The persecution of a physical nature were motivated by political issues such as slavery. I believe we will see such physical persecution again motived by political issues such as the Iraqi war and other hot issues.
And Bee Eff:
I believe that if many non-LDS detractors of the faith were not afraid of public reprisal there would be much more activity against us than there currently is.
Avatar4321:
Im not really afraid of it. I know it will happen. but im not afraid of it.
jadams_4040:
There has always been persecution of christianity as a whole in genearal, and having said that, i would also state what should be no doubt to any christians anywhere, that the l.d.s family has and will suffer the worst kinds of advesarial attacks of all. And along those lines we, {of course} cite biblical prophecies as do all other beleifs. but it is especially so against this church and this is very obvious and always has been so.
Check out this wacko post:
Fig-bearing Thistle wrote:I see physical persecution coming again, but it will be legalized. For example, seizure of property for preaching a doctrine that same-sex-marriage is contrary to the commandments of God, may some day become a reality.
Sometimes, earnestness can be a liability:
Hammer wrote:That is very probable. After all the did it over polygamy.
D'oh!
Next, a Christian fellow gets ridiculed for stating point-blank what his feelings on this matter are:
Pa Pa wrote:James Banta wrote:I do not fear those that can kill the body all they can do is give me the fulfillment in dieing for my Lord. I am older now. I am almost ready to retire. I have had a wonderful life and now Jesus fills my mind and delights my soul. It would be an honor to suffer for His name.. The LDS Church doesn't have a lock on being persecuted for the name of Jesus.. I would be thrilled to stand against my murders like Stephen and call blessings to then as their stone crush me.. IHS Jim
OOOKayyy. You suffer from Martyr syndrome.
Not very nice, Pa Pa!
What, I ask you, is the best antidote for a thread as jacked-up and demented as this? Why, a wise and well-grounded post from Katherine the Great, of course!:
Katherine the great wrote:I haven't seen widespread fear of this. However, there always seems to be a minority population within the church who almost LIKE the idea of persecution. I think this is just a mindset that crosses all religious and ethnic boundaries--almost a personality type. I cannot see LDS being actively persecuted in the U.S. I think Americans generally dislike the religion, but usually have had positive experiences with the LDS people they actually know. I hear it all the time, "Oh yeah! The Mormon church is so weird, but I've never met a Mormon that I didn't like!"
It all makes me wonder: How different would the Church be if it had never faced persecution of any kind?